Brassiere

ABSTRACT

A padded type brassiere has a pair of padded bust-supporting cups, a longitudinally resilient under-bust, body encircling band, a pair of resilient shoulder straps secured to the outer side-portion of the bust cups, and a pair of resilient gussets secured to the upper outer quadrants of the bust cups and the adjacent shoulder straps. The gussets flex in response to tension applied to the shoulder straps to maintain the bust cups in a relatively fixed position in relation to the under-bust band. The bust cups have a pad of soft fibrous material integral therewith, each forming a shelf along a generally diagonal line of the cup to push the bust of the wearer upwardly and inwardly of its normal unsupported position.

United States Patent 191 Greenblatt et a1.

lnventors:

Assignee:

Filedz Appl. No:

BRASSIERE Irwin Greenblatt; Nicholas A. Marino, both of Blauvelt, N .Y.

Sears Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill.

Oct. 31, 1972 US. CL, 128/480, 128/494, 128/510 Field of Search 128/477, 478, 479, 480, 128/489, 494, 498, 510

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Vrreault. -Paveza Steinmetz Block, 128/479 x Marino Gingras 128/477 X 1 I June 4, 1974 3,665,929 5/1972 Brantly ..128/494 Primary Examiher-Werner H. Schroeder Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Arnstein, Gluck, Weitzenfeld & Minow [57] ABSTRACT A padded type brassiere has a pair of padded bustsupporting cups, alongitudinally resilient under-bust,

. body encircling band, a pair of resilient shoulder straps secured to the outer side-portion of the bust cups, and a pair of resilient 'gussets secured to the upper outer quadrants of the bust cups and the adjacent sho ulder straps. The gussets flex in response to, tensionapplied to the shoulder straps to maintain the bust cupsin a relatively fixed position in relation to the under-bust band. The bust cups have a pad of soft fibrous material integral therewith, each forming a shelf along a generally diagonal line of the cup to push the bust of the wearer upwardly-and inwardly of its normal unsupported position.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUN 41914 3814l107 sum 1 or 2 BRASSIERE 1. Field of the'lnvention This invention relates to a padded type brassiere for raising and moving the bustinwardly of its normally unsupported position. 7

2. Description of the Prior Art Numerous bust pads have been disclosed and used for many yearsfor insertion into brassieres to provide the wearer with an appearance of 'a larger bust. Early pads are sewn into the bust cotton. and later pads were fabricated of foam rubber or synthetic foamed materials. In many cases,-the pads were sewn into the bust cups of brassieres or other garments to eliminate embarrassing slippage of the pads in use. However, where the pads were secured to the brassiere or other garment, without resilient release of the bust cup to the shoulder strap the pad and bust cup would move rela- .tive to the breast upon the wearer engaging in any activities involving stretching, bending and-the like. This relative movement-between the pads and the breasts was a source of undesirable discomfort to the wearer.

In addition, breast pads generally are objectionable to mostv women, as they are often uncomfortable against the skin and they usually encompass the entire breast preventing airflow thereto, providing an unnatural feeling to the wearer, and preventing the exposure of the upper portionof the breast as is desirable with certain modern fashions. Moreover, the pads look false and do not shift the bust to a more attractive and desirable position. Pads which do. not have a plateau or shelf for supporting the breast neither support nor lift the same, while pads which have only a mound or shelf positioned directly beneath the breast or the center thereof, may not lift the breast, but instead the breast may only hang over the mound without proper support around the entire breast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide a brassiere of the padded type in which relative provide the upper-inner portion of the'bust cup with a layer of padding which is relatively undetectable.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when the same is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with thepresentinvention a brassiere of the padded type is provided having a pair of padded bust-supporting cups, a longitudinally resilient underbust band secured to the lower portion of the cups, a pair of longitudinally resilient bands each having one end secured to the under-bust band adjacent its connection with the outer-lower limitof one of the cups andstitched along and to the outer-side edge portion of the cup adjacent thereto, and a pair of resilient gussets each secured to the upper-outer quadrant of one of the cups and to'the adjacent .band whereby the gussets flex in response to tension applied to the bands while maintaining the bust cups in a relatively fixed positioninrelation to the under-bust band. The resilient under-bust band is adapted to encircle the torso of the wearer beneath the bust, and has interengagable terminal members positionable at the back of the wearer for securing the brassiere to the torso. The pair of gussets with and extending substantially over the entire bust cup, while having a generally triangular portion of maximum thickness below a line extending generally diagonally across each of the bust cups from the bottom of the cup adjacent its junction to the other cup toward the upper-outer limit of the cup and aportion of the movement between the padded bust cupsand the.

breasts is substantially prevented during stretching and flexing of theshoulder straps of the brassiere in any of several directions.

It is another object of this invention to provide a brassiere of the padded type in which the position'of the padded bust cups with respect to the under-bust of the brassiere is maintained upon the flexing of the shoulder straps in any of several directions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pad-- weight material and in non-uniformly distributed to pad of minimum thickness extending substantially across the remaining area of each of the cups. In this manner, each of the pads form a bust-supporting shelf generally along the heretofore described diagonal line to push the bust of the wearer upwardly and inwardly of its normally unsupported position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a brassiere em bodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rearperspective view thereof, showing the inside of the brassiere.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view thereof. FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side elevational view thereof taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, thenumeral 10 indicates generally a brassiere inaccordance with the present invention. Brassiere 10 includes a pair of padded bust-supporting cups 11 and 12. The outer layer of these cups is formed of fabric, for example, Dacron (Trademark of El. DuPont de Memours and Co.) polyester lace or double-knit polyester tricot and is generally hemispherical in conformation. The two cups are bordered by a relatively non-extensible binding 13 which may be formed of the fabricof the outer layer of the cup by forming a stitched hem of the fabric as by 'being designed to provide 'some adjustability to allow 3 a double line of stitching 14 as shown. Bust cups l2 and 13 are secured to each other at the front of brassiere by stitching 16, preferably having stitching 16 securing together binding 13 of each of the cups, although v 4 r 33 in under-bust band 17 and thereby vertically extending the latter. Panels 32 and 33 are secured to and extend rearwardly from the pair of shoulder bands 23'and the cups may be spaced from each other by the'use of 5 relatively non-extensible inserts (not shown).

The lower portion of cups 11 and 12 are secured to an under bust band 17 which is adapted to encircle the torso of the wearer. Under-bust band 17 is longitudinally resilient, preferably being formed of elastic material. Under-bust band 17 has interengageable terminal members 18 and 19 which are normally positioned at the back of the wearer, one end of band 17 being stitched to a closuretab 21, said tab, as is customary, being provided with two or three rows of members 18, such as eyes, adapted to engage a row of mating terminal members 19, such as hooks on a closure tab 22 stitched to the opposite end of band 17, said members for changes in girth.

A pair of longintudinally resilient shoulder bands 23 and 24 are each stitched at one end to under-bust band 17 adjacent its connection thereof with the outer-lower limit of one of each of bust cups Hand 12. Shoulder bands 23 and 24 are longitudinally resilient, preferably being formed of elastic material, and are stitched along to the outer-side edge portion of the adjacent bust cup.

. The other end of each of shoulder bands 23 and 24 are secured to undeFbust band 17, at a position normally atthe back of the wearer. Bands 23 and 24 are adapted to extend over the shoulders of the wearer and may contain adjustable members 27, as is customary, to permit adjustment of the shoulder straps for differences in the height of the shoulders above the bustof individual wearers. v .1

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of resilient gussets 28 and 29 are provided, each extending and being secured to the upper-outer. quadrant of one of each of the bust cups l1 and 12, for example, by being stitched to binding 13 by double line of stitching l4, and secured to the adjacent shoulder band, for example, by stitching 31. Gu'ssets 28 and 29 are generally triangular in shape and have one of the sides thereof defined by and secured by stitching 14 to the upper-outer quadrant of the adjacent bust cup. Another of the sides of gussets 28 and 29,as heretofore stated, are defined by and stitched to the adjacent shoulder band 23 or 24 by stitching 31 above the portion of the band which is stitched to the adjacent bust cup. The third side of the gusset is free of attachment to the remainder of brassiere 10. As the gussets are preferably formed of resilient webbing, such as spandex, the gussets are free to flex in response to tension applied to the shoulder bands 23 and 24 in an upwardly and/or outwardly direction, while maintaining bust cups 11 and 12 in a relatively fixed position in relation to the bust of the wearer and to under-bust band -17. in this manner, the position of the bust cups, and consequently the bust of the wearer, is maintained in a relatively fixed position even upon movement of shoulder straps 23 and 24, such as normally occurs during normal activities of the wearer, particularly upon stretching and bending.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is further enhanced and'a brassiere made in accordance therewith provides further comfort to the wearer by including a pair of horizontally elastic side panels 32 and of the wearer.

24 at their junction with at least a portion of the outerside edge portion of the respective bust cups 11 and 12 by double line of stitching 14 which also secures the shoulder band to the outer-side edge portion of the respective bust cup. Side panels 32 and 33 are also secured to the lower marginal edge of under-bust band 17 byalin-e of stitching 34, which may be of the zigzag type of stitching, and to the respective closure tabs 21 and 22 by a similar line of stitching 36. In addition, the other end of each of shoulder bands 23 and 24 is attached to one-of each of the side panels 32 and 33, as shown, and a reinforcing binding 37 is provided along the upper edge of each of the side panels 32 and 33 to assist in supporting the said end of the shoulder straps. Preferably, binding 37 is fabricated on the same material as the lower marginal edge of under-bust band 17 so that the combination of the latter'with the side panel and the'binding, which normally is positioned about the diaphramof the wearer, can expand and contract as the wearer breathes without discomfort. By fabricating side panels 32 and 33 as well as gussets 28 and 29 of a 'porous or reticulated material, such as spandex, airis permitted to circulate therethroughenhancing the comfort Each of bust cups 1] and 12 of brassiere 10 have a pad of soft fibrous material integral therewith partially adapted to raise and move the bust inwardly of its nor- 'mally unsupported position. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, acontoured integral layer or pad 38 of 5 and the outer material of the cup only alongits borders,

so that it can conform to the contour of the breast as the latter is shaped and positioned by the bust cup, as shown in FIG. 4. Pad 38 extends substantially over the entire bust cup and hasia generally triangular portion of maximum thickness below a line extending generally diagonally across each of the cups from the bottom of the cup adjacent its junction with the bottom of the other cup and the under-bust band 17 toward the upper-outer limit of the cup. Pad 38 also includes a portion of minimum thickness, as shown in FIG. 4, extending substantially across the remaining area of each of the cups. The portion of the pad of maximum thickness in relation to the remaining portion of the pad forms a bust-supporting shelf, generally indicated by numeral 40 along the heretofore described generally diagonal line which is operable to initially push and to maintain the bust of the wearer upwardly of its normally unsupported position. v

It will be seen that the present invention provides a brassiere of the padded type wherein the padding is concealed from view, cannot be readily detected,-and is molded into the bust cups, to prevent slippage of the padding. The padding forms a bust-supporting shelf or plateau 40 along a generally diagonal line between the bottom-outer quadrant of the cup and the upper-inner quadrant thereof. This shelf or plateau lifts the bust of the wearer and positions the bust inwardlyof its normally unsupported position. Although this position of the bust can be maintained with the padded bustsupporting cups described herein while the wearer is inactive, the brassiere described herein is effective, by means of the shoulder straps being supported directly by under-bust band 17 and the outer side portion of the cups, and additionally in a resilient manner by gussets 28 and 29, to maintain the supported bust of the wearer in a relatively stationary position while the wearer engages in various activities which would otherwise pull the bust cups out of their desired position. The upward and inward positioning of the bust, as compared to its normally unsupported position, is desirable, particularly with fashions where the top portion of the bust is exposed, as brassiere permits the exposure of greater portions of the top and center of the bust while providing the appearance of a fuller bust having the natural contour of the brassiere.

Thus, it will be seen that a brassiere in accordance with the present invention provides a padded brassiere, wherein the padding is substantially undetectable, which is effective to raise and desirably reposition the bust, which provides for maximum comfort for the wearer, while maintaining the bust-supporting cups in their desired positions during various activities, making the brassiere especially attractive to physically active women having a smaller than desired bust.

Various changescoming within the spirit of our invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence we do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiment shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of our invention being limited only by the appended claims. r

We claim: i

l. A brassiere comprising a. a pair of bust-supporting cups, each having an upper-outer quadrant, an outer-lower limit and outerside edge portion,

b. a longitudinally resilient under-bust band adapted to encircle the torso of the wearer beneath the bust thereof, said under-bust bandbeing secured to the lower portion of said cups including their outerlower limits to maintain said cups in relatively fixed position in relation to said under-bust band, and said under-bust having interengageable terminal members normally positionable at the back of the wearer, g a pair of longitudinally resilient bands each having one-end thereof secured to said under-bust band adjacent the connection of the under-bust band with the outer-lower limit of one of said bust cups and stitched along and to the outer-side edge portion of said bust cup adjacent to the longitudinally resilient band and having the other'end thereof secured to said under-bust band at a position normally at the back of the wearer, said pair of bands being adapted to extend over the wearers shoulders, and d. a pair of resilient gussets each extending and secured to the upper-outer quadrant of one of said bust cups and to the adjacent band, whereby said resilient gussets fle'x in response to tension applied to said bands in an upwardly and outwardly direction while maintaining said bust cup in a relatively fixed position in relation to said under-bust band.

quadrant of the adjacent bust cup, having another of its sides defined by and stitched to the adjacent band above the portion of said band which is-stitched to the adjacent-cup, the third side of said gusset being free of attachment to the remainder of said brassiere.

3. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein said resilient under-bust band includes horizontally elastic side panels secured to and extending rearwardly from the pair of longitudinally resilient bands at their junction'with at least a portion of theouter-side edge portion of said bust cups and. also secured to at least one of said interengageable terminal members.

4. A brassiere of the padded type comprising a. a pair of bust-supporting cups, each having an upper-outer limit, an upper-outer quadrant, an outerlower limit and outer-side edge portions,

b. a longitudinally resilient under-bust adapted to en circle the torso of the wearer beneath the bust thereof,said under-bust band being secured to the lower portion of said cupsincluding their outerlower limits to maintain said cups in relatively fixed position in relation to said under-bust band, and said under-bust band having interengageable terminal members normally positionable at the back of the wearer,

.each of said bust cups having a pad of soft fibrous material integral therewith, said pad extending substantially over the entire bust cup and having a generally triangular portion of maximum thickness below a line extending generally diagonally across each of said cups from the bottom of the cup adjacent its junction to the other cup and the underbust band toward the upper-outer limit of said cup, and a portion of said pad of minimum thickness extending substantially across the remaining area of said cups, whereby each of said pads forms a bustsupporting shelf generally along said line to push the bust of the wearer upwardly and inwardly of its normally unsupported position,

d. a pair of longitudinally resilient bands, each having one end secured to said under-bust band adjacent the connection of the under-bust band with the outer-lower limit of one of said bust cups and stitched along and to the outer-side edge portion of said bust cup adjacent to the longitudinally resilient band, and having the other end thereof secured to said under-bust band at a position normally at the back of the wearer, said bands being adapted to extend over the wearers shoulders, and

. a pair of resilient gussets, each extending and secured to the upper-outer quadrant of one of said bust cups and to the adjacent band, whereby said resilient gussets flex in response to tension applied to said bands in an upwardly and outwardly direction while maintaining the bust cups in a relatively fixed position in relation to said under-bust band.

5. The brassiere of claim 4 wherein each of said pads is molded free of stitching integrally with its respective bust cup.

6. The brassiere of claim 4 wherein said resilient under-bust band includes horizontally elastic side panels secured to and extending rearwardly from the pair of longitudinally resilient bands at their junction with at least a portion of the outer-side edge portion of said .bust cups and also secured to at least one of said interquadrant of the adjacent bust cup, having another of its sides defined by and stitched to the adjacent band above the portion of saidband which is stitched to the adjacent cup, the third side of said gusset being free of attachment to the remainder of said brassiere.

10. The brassiere of claim 8 wherein said resilient under-bust band includes horizontally eleastic side panels secured to and extending rearwardly from the pair of longitudinally resilient bands at their junction with at least a portion of the outer-side edge portion of said bust cups and also secured to at least one of said interengageable terminal members.

l 2 3 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,814,107 Dated June 4, 1974 I ntor( Irwin Greenblatt and NicholasA. Merino It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

PATENT FRONT PAGE:

Element No. 75 should read as follows: --Irwin Greenblatt, Nicholas A. Marino, both of New York,

New York--; I

IN THE SPECIFICATION:

Column 1, line 52 after "under-bust" insert --ba.nd--;

Column 2, line 63, "Memours" should read --Nemours--; Column 3, line 26, after "along" insert --a.nd--; IN THE CLAIMS:

Claim columm 6, line 37 after "and". insert to line 40, after "area of" insert --each of--.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN V Commissioner of Patents McCOY M. GIBSONJR. Attesting Officer 

1. A brassiere comprising a. a pair of bust-supporting cups, each having an upper-outer quadrant, an outer-lower limit and outer-side edge portion, b. a longitudinally resilient under-bust band adapted to encircle the torso of the wearer beneath the bust thereof, said under-bust band being secured to the lower portion of said cups including their outer-lower limits to maintain said cups in relatively fixed position in relation to said under-bust band, and said under-bust having interengageable terminal members normally positionable at the back of the wearer, c. a pair of longitudinally resilient bands each having one-end thereof secured to said under-bust band adjacent the connection of the under-bust band with the outer-lower limit of one of said bust cups and stitched along and to the outer-side edge portion of said bust cup adjacent to the longitudinally resilient band and having the other end thereof secured to said under-bust band at a position normally at the back of the wearer, said pair of bands being adapted to extend over the wearer''s shoulders, and d. a pair of resilient gussets each extending and secured to the upper-outer quadrant of one of said bust cups and to the adjacent band, whereby said resilient gussets flex in response to tension applied to said bands in an upwardly and outwardly direction while maintaining said bust cup in a relatively fixed position in relation to said under-bust band.
 2. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein each of said gussets is generally triangular in shape, having one of the sides thereof defined by and secured to the upper-outer quadrant of the adjacent bust cup, having another of its sides defined by and stitched to the adjacent band above the portion of said band which is stitched to the adjacent cup, the third side of said gusset being free of attachment to the remainder of said brassiere.
 3. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein said resilient under-bust band includes horizontally elastic side panels secured to and extending rearwardly from the pair of longitudinally resilient bands at their junction with at least a portion of the outer-side edge portion of said bust cups and also secured to at least one of said interengageable terminal members.
 4. A brassiere of the padded type comprising a. a pair of bust-supporting cups, each having an upper-outer limit, an upper-outer quadrant, an outer-lower limit and outer-side edge portions, b. a longitudinally resilient under-bust adapted to encircle the torso of the wearer beneath the bust thereof, said under-bust band being secured to the lower portion of said cups including their outer-lower limits to maintain said cups in relatively fixed position in relation to said under-bust band, and said under-bust band having interengageable terminal members normally positionable at the back of the wearer, c. each of said bust cups having a pad of soft fibrous material integral therewith, said pad extending substantially over the entire bust cup and having a generally triangular portion of maximum thickness below a line extending generally diagonally across each of said cups from the bottom of the cup adjacent its junction to the other cup and the under-bust banD toward the upper-outer limit of said cup, and a portion of said pad of minimum thickness extending substantially across the remaining area of said cups, whereby each of said pads forms a bust-supporting shelf generally along said line to push the bust of the wearer upwardly and inwardly of its normally unsupported position, d. a pair of longitudinally resilient bands, each having one end secured to said under-bust band adjacent the connection of the under-bust band with the outer-lower limit of one of said bust cups and stitched along and to the outer-side edge portion of said bust cup adjacent to the longitudinally resilient band, and having the other end thereof secured to said under-bust band at a position normally at the back of the wearer, said bands being adapted to extend over the wearer''s shoulders, and e. a pair of resilient gussets, each extending and secured to the upper-outer quadrant of one of said bust cups and to the adjacent band, whereby said resilient gussets flex in response to tension applied to said bands in an upwardly and outwardly direction while maintaining the bust cups in a relatively fixed position in relation to said under-bust band.
 5. The brassiere of claim 4 wherein each of said pads is molded free of stitching integrally with its respective bust cup.
 6. The brassiere of claim 4 wherein said resilient under-bust band includes horizontally elastic side panels secured to and extending rearwardly from the pair of longitudinally resilient bands at their junction with at least a portion of the outer-side edge portion of said bust cups and also secured to at least one of said interengageable terminal members.
 7. The brassiere of claim 6 wherein said gussets and said side panels are reticulated to permit air circulation therethrough.
 8. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein said bust-supporting cups are padded bust-supporting cups.
 9. The brassiere of claim 8 wherein each of said gussets is generally triangular in shape, having one of the sides thereof defined by and secured to the upper-outer quadrant of the adjacent bust cup, having another of its sides defined by and stitched to the adjacent band above the portion of said band which is stitched to the adjacent cup, the third side of said gusset being free of attachment to the remainder of said brassiere.
 10. The brassiere of claim 8 wherein said resilient under-bust band includes horizontally eleastic side panels secured to and extending rearwardly from the pair of longitudinally resilient bands at their junction with at least a portion of the outer-side edge portion of said bust cups and also secured to at least one of said interengageable terminal members. 